Berea College alumni messages of solidarity!

Over the past month, we have seen an outpouring of support from Berea College alumni in support of our union campaign! Hundreds of Berea College alumni have signed our petition calling on the administration to remain neutral leading up to and during our union election and to bargain in good faith.Here are some of the support messages sent by Berea College alumni:

“While I believe Berea is doing great things, I also believe that things can be better still at Berea. This is not just about money, but a voice for students related to labor. This union will be motivation for the administration to continue to be receptive to students’ needs and be transparent with policies regarding labor.”

Hannah Downs, Class of 2023

“There is a strange assumption that Union means rebellion, but in truth, it really means equality. Berea College labor students are seeking to increase their means of fair communication to better the Berea community. They want acknowledgement for their efforts, and they deserve to be heard when they have ideas that may make their college working lives healthier. If anything, it goes against Berea’s core values to deny their injustices and turn a blind eye.”
Caitlyn Lyons, Class of 2023

“I support this union effort. The importance of labor unions and workers’ rights is embedded in relevant Berea curriculum.”
Leopoldo Tapia Aracayo, Class of 2023

“Everyone that has a stake should have a seat. I believe that unions allow all of us to work towards solutions that benefit the institution and the people. When we work together we can build a student-work force of proud adults who take pride in their labor and believe in the mission of the college.”
Brigitte Fowler, Class of 2018

“I am so proud of the current students of Berea College for this move. I believe this is a move that completely embodies the values and ideals of Berea College; these student workers are absolutely living up to the school motto, "God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth." Their actions make me proud to be a graduate.”
Shady Canary, Class of 2014

“Proud to see Berea students organizing to form a labor union as the labor program is foundational to Berea's mission. A student labor union and collective bargaining should also be part of that mission.”
Rebecca Frost, class of 2010

“I wholeheartedly support this effort- I feel like every workplace should unionize, in order to balance the power structure of the workplace. Workers need advocates.”
Andy Koechling, Class of 2006

“Student workers need the support of a strong union to protect their rights in the workplace. They cannot always depend on the administration to have students' best interests at heart. I stand with the USWB-CWA”
Toby Wilcher, Class of 2005

“Berea taught me to be proud of the union movement and the power of the workers to bring change. I'm disappointed that they would deny today's students the opportunity to organize for workers' rights. This goes against every value that Berea proclaims. Organizing and fighting for justice is a right that every worker must have!”
Dr. Rebecca Felier Dubrosky, Class of 1991

“Berea, like any large, successful organization can lose its way and needs to be reminded to stay its course for the sake of its most important community, its students.”
Eric Bowling, Class of 1990

“I hope to see that Berea College's commitment to the dignity of labor is extended to a commitment to the dignity of Berea student workers. All workers deserve a voice, and the College's concerns should be allayed by the measures to protect students' rights taken in the establishment of student worker unions at Kenyon College, Smith College, and Swarthmore College. Berea College should follow these schools' examples.”
Amy Tompkins, Class of 1978

“To deprive students of their union is theft of labor”
Autumn Harvey, Class of 2022

“I support the union. During my tenure at Berea, I found the college labor department was violating applicable state labor law when it came to paid breaks. The college subsequently issued back pay to students who suffered from that violation and instituted a policy to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. However, the fact that this has happened previously, does not mean the college is incapable of violating labor law. My experience as a dining worker during my freshman year constituted weekly demeaning verbal conduct from our supervisors. Moreover, in 2016, students in dining services regularly worked until 2 am and had class the following day. Having been firsthand witness to these practices, I see the necessity of having a strong collective bargaining organization for Berea Students' dignity.”
Lee Myers, Class of 2020

“When I was a student at Berea I was also civically involved and unionization of labor was something my peers and I discussed as well. I’m glad to see this generation of Bereans continuing the good fight for economic and labor Justice.”
Alejandro Galeana-Salinas, Class of 2019

“While I love the work-study aspect of Berea, we were constantly underrepresented as a student body regarding finances. Working more than the allotted 10 hours/week, yet only seeing the 10 hours on our paychecks. Getting paid very little, yet being barred from getting a job in town to help offset cost of living prices. I fully support a union, to help better support the student body - so that they can receive a great education, but also be financially independent when graduating!”
Henry Marshall, Class of 2019

“I support the student workers and their right to unionize.”
Adam Funck, Class of 2018

“Berea students have every reason to organize and demand better conditions and pay for what they do at - and for - the school. Just because Berea is private does not mean they get to treat the students however they want.”
Matthew Heil, Class of 2015

“Unionization is a welcome step forward for Berea College, and a test of Berea's values. The President and Board must not stand as an obstacle to the Students right to organize a union. I support the call for bargaining with United Student Workers of Berea in good faith.”
Sam Hawes, Class of 2013

“Unionizing is a deeply American response to inevitable changes in the relationship between employers and employees. As an alumna, I support Berea Students' self-determination of their need for representation in all forms and urge President Nixon and the administration to honor and respect Berea's scholars. I didn't only learn subject matters at Berea, I learned what it means to respect, honor, and struggle together - towards progress, economic empowerment and structural change. That's the legacy of Berea College. Never forget it.”
Carol Brobeck, Class of 2013